Receiving my certificate of completion from Alexandr Popov.
What an amazing experience. I really cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this opportunity. So many things fell into place and made it possible for me to study with the Moscow Art Theatre School this summer and I am infinitely grateful. I am particularly grateful to those who helped make it possible to attend this program. I learned a lot and I've thought about three main things I gained/learned and wanted to briefly share those.
First of all I learned a lot about my craft as an artist and as an actor. I was reminded of the importance of seeking truth in your work. The whole time we were working on our One-act comedies Misha kept reminded us to be real. To never play to the audience to get a laugh or anything of that manner. I have a bad habit for doing that (and I usually get away with it) and I was grateful for Misha's expert eye to catch me on that and require me to immerse myself in my character and go through his experience. Even though the play is comedic the story is tragic for the characters and the greatest comedy is able to come out when I believe 100% in what my character is doing and going through. Misha would constantly say, "You are laughing because it is true!" This is a principle I've known and used, but I understood it so much better after putting it into practice under Misha's direction. Anatoly Smeliansky, the dean of MXAT said, "You have to invest your soul into [Chekhov's] plays. If you don't, then the audience won't." I think this applies to any role you play.
Secondly, I met some amazing people. I was once afraid of moving to a big city like New York or Chicago, but now I know lots of people in those cities. I would feel much more comfortable moving there knowing that I have close friends trying to do the same thing that I am. I really hope I get to work with some of them again in the future, each one is a very special person and a very talent artist. I truly grew to love them during the time I was with them. I regret that I couldn't live in the dorms and spend more time with them, but finances just didn't allow that, and besides I got to spend a month with my wonderful family and that was totally worth it. In addition to the wonderful contacts and friends I've made in the US, I've also made some wonderful friends from Russia and various other countries around the world. I would love to travel to Russia and see them again and I hope that someday I will get to.
The third and final major thing I took from this experience is that it's okay to just be myself. I was quite terrified going to an advanced acting training program as the conservative religious guy. I wasn't sure how I would be received or treated. I was particularly nervous as a Mormon because of the many recent and unfortunate misunderstandings and contentions between Mormons and members of the guy and lesbian community, and of course the theatre world shares a close bond with the latter. I don't hate anyone and don't plan on ever doing so, but I still knew that there were prejudices about people like me and I didn't know how I would be received and treated. In short it was an ill-founded worry. As I already knew theatre folk are wonderfully loving and accepting and supportive of people who are different. Even when those people fall on the opposite spectrum of those who are generally considered "different". I found a very safe environment where I could be myself. And myself is a very open and loving person. I don't judge others by their life-style whatever it may be and I don't try to force my ideas on anyone. I just live my life in a manner that brings me peace and joy and I try to improve because I'll be the first to acknowledge that I'm imperfect and have a lot to work on, so who am I to judge another? People recognized that and several complimented me on my ability to live an honest life and said that they admired that a lot. After all, isn't that the point of everything? Life? Art? Live an honest life. Whatever that means to you.
So, I learned a lot and I'm profoundly grateful for it. Now it's time to make things happen in my life! I'm excited to take what I've learned in the Stanislavsky Summer School and in my BFA program at Brigham Young University and go forth and serve. The purpose of art, I believe, is to serve humanity by helping others live a more authentic life.
